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Thursday, October 21, 2010

Friends, I just wanted to do a quick post today and thank all of you who follow me. Today I noticed I was lucky enough to be in this weeks Links A La Mode By IFB. For those of you who don't know what IFB (Independent Fashion Bloggers) is, its a great online community for us fashion bloggers. IFB puts out a list every week of what they feel represents blogs that week and pick what they feel are the best at portraying that subject matter. Below are all the links of the great blogs that got pick this week. Thank you all who read my rants, rave and sometimes just fashion blubber. I always get excited and overjoyed at new comments and readers. I just don't do this for myself but for you guys as well. If there is anything you guys want to see on here or just have questions about let me know!

THE BLOGGING DIARIES- INTROSPECTS, INSIGHTS, AND INSPIRATIONS

As bloggers, we often find ourselves looking to other blogs for inspiration. Sometimes we look to our closets, magazines, or in the mirror. This week’s roundup fashions some of the most introspective and insightful posts from bloggers who reach across the blogosphere as they look for ways to build upon, contribute to, and pull inspiration for and from the fashion world.

LINKS À LA MODE: OCTOBER 21ST

365 Fashion Rehab: Lessons from a (Reformed) Shopaholic: A beautiful handbag repaired (for free!). One more reason to buy quality over quantity.

Boheme Noir: The first ladies of Vogue – a closer look at the most important editors in chief.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

As November is creeping along ever so fast, my hunt begins on trying to find a great dress and look for a wedding. On a hopefully nice November weekend, my cousin will be getting married. The hard part is to find a great dress that will keep myself warm and that is what i love about this look. The high collar, long sleeves and the silk still makes it feel glamorous. Have your hair up and pair it with a set of amazing vintage chandelier earrings!

Also another thing I know we all will start doing soon in the coming months is Christmas shopping. As much as I love Christmas, I really hate shopping for the occasion but I know I am going to have to man up and do it! It will also help by having great looks to wear when your dodging slush puddles and black ice. With these great biker boots, your toes will stay nice and warm and comfy along with a nice shearling lined jacket!

Now that the weather is starting to change, it is time to change your work style as well. As much as I hate packing my summer skirts and dresses away until next season, I am loving the tailor men style suits for women. I also love wide leg trousers and great blazers and this is the perfect set to move into warmer clothes for the office.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Every so often a fashion designer emerges and changes everything we know. These designers don't just make beautiful clothes but are true artist. Be it Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, or even Hussein Chalayan, these designers came and blew everything out of the water. Their collections are more than pieces of cloth sewn together, they are pieces of art because whether it's the colour and mix of fabrics, they can actually transform and morph those into something else.

We all love something new, at least I do and that is why I fell in love with fashion so much. It's always changing and always evolving. These are the designers that push the boundaries and limits, always think a step ahead of everyone else.

The thing is we have seen these collections season after season and as much as we love them, who will be next? Who is going to be the next big thing to come and push the limits even further? Who will be thinking 10 steps ahead of Marc Jacobs? What will the next armadillo shoes or coffee table skirt be?

I think that is what makes fashion fun. You can not just be "normal" or "average" or even completely and utterly sane. There is just no such thing in fashion. If you think you are sane and normal and work in the fashion industry, sorry but you won't be around for long. Just wanting to be in fashion you have to be a little crazy. Whether your a perfectionist or just a born leader that doesn't know the word no or can't, it is a dog eat dog world in fashion and you have to prepare for battle.

So who is ready to step up to the plate and be the next crazy and close to insane fashion designer? Who are you and what is your name? Lets hope you make it and stick around for awhile. I know I'm excited to meet you and see what you got!

Friday, October 15, 2010

All of the fashion shows all month were beautiful and amazing. From Marc Jacobs to Chanel, everything was gorgeous.

Sarah Burton debut her first full collection for Alexander McQueen. There was a lot of debate on whether she had what it took to carry on a full collection. But she definitely proved herself to be thenext to carry on his story. After seeing the collection myself, I was pleasantly surprised and excited. It was as if she brought a new life to the collection and released all the tension in what the past collections held. Alexander McQueen would have been proud to see what she did.

In Paris, Karl Lagerfeld had another amazing runway show. The set was an amazing Parisian chic garden with a full string orchestra. Just to put in perspective how big the set was, each model's walk was 5 minutes long.

Every show was amazing this season and I am now very excited to see what everyone will do for the next.

Friday, September 24, 2010

We were off to London this past week for fashion week. I always love London the most. I find it's always the most creative. There is never a cookie cutter trend in London, plus the cute guys with the great accents don't hurt either.

Sass and Bide was one of the shows on the first day and it was a refreshing show. The name of the collection was "Papa Sucre", English translation would be "Sugar Daddy." For some reason it just doesn't sound right in it's English form. This collection was a lot more simpler with amazing draping and knotting with a natural colour palette. Although it was a lot more softer and feminine then others in the past, their warrior - queen edge was still there in the detailing and styling with the belts and accessories.

Another bad ass designer that showed at London was the one-of-a-kind Vivienne Westwood for her Red Label. The usually politically charged collection wasn't all there. It seems that these days her inspiration is that she just truly enjoys designing and creating clothes. It really does show in the amazing suits, skirts, the ageless dresses and tops. The add of the sporty stripes running down the trouser gave the usual business look an casual one. Even though the collection itself may not have been so charged as in the past, fashion goers were still given brochures about the legal organization Reprieve. Vivienne Westwood was never one to fit inside of the typical box. She truly designed for herself and to get a point across and never just because it was going to sell.

This is also just what Matthew Williamson tried to do with his show. The very typical party girl designer tried to step out and do something different. "My storyboard is a girl marooned on a deserted island", was the way he explained it after the show. Take that as you may, but I can still see the party girls wearing this collection. But don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this line. I found it great with some amazing embellished dresses. Just sometimes when you have one specific type of consumer, it can be hard to step away from that. There were lots of great cocktail dresses and redcarpet dresses, as well as pants and shorts.

Keeping on the same topic of stepping out of the box, I just have to take some time to mention Christopher Bailey's collection for Burberry. In a nut shell, it didn't go over so well with the public and fashion editors. He tried to explain the collection before the show by saying, "We can translate everything so many times and it always feels different, depending on the mood of the moment." Judging from the line and everyone's impression of it, the "mood of the moment "didn't really want to be different. The collection was titled "Heritage Biker" from what I assume to be paying homage to Thomas Burberry. Mr. Burberry was one of the first to design for England's first motor bike riders in the 1900's. Now Mr. Burberry was known to design in a time where form would follow function. I believe he would be hard-pressed these days to see that now it is really more about form that follows fashion. I can only wonder what he would have designed in this day in age. It seemed that the whole collection this season was centered around rock 'n' roll. It is great to see designers trying something new and stepping out of the box but, there is a certain way of going about it. Especially if it is already a label that is known of a specific style. You can tweak a classic, but it never fairs well when you change the whole thing.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Yesterday marked the last day of New York Fashion Week, but not the end of fashion month. After the final walk through of the final show last night, we now make our way to London. We've seen lots of amazing collections come down the runway this past week. Unfortunately, I was unable to cover everybody and it's so hard picking and choosing which ones to review.

There would be no one better for me to start with for my end of the week round up then Marc Jacobs. Does he ever make a bad collection or a bad piece of clothing at all? There was not one piece that I questioned. Every single one was beautiful and creative. Marc knows what is beautiful and what is going to work for every season.

Great colours and great fabrics came down the runway in both men and women. In my mind, he could do no wrong. Both collections, Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs, were amazing. Marc by Marc Jacobs had a seventies inspired feel about it. The line had that sweetness and sass, but also a sophisticated look that seems to be one of the biggest trends for the spring.

One great dynamic duo of this week would have to be Mark Badgley and James Mischka. The pair did timeless glamour like no other. Oddly enough there seventies inspired collection followed nicely after Marc's show the night before. Light and sheer colours, high waisted pants, beautiful gowns and pops of colour would be the best ways to describe this collection.

Award season may not be here quite yet, but that did not stop the pair from creating amazing red carpet gowns. Also, there were equally great cocktail dresses and sheer, flowy blouses. The show stopper had to be the final dress that floated down the runway. A one shoulder, red carpet gown. Makes me wonder if and who will be wearing this number this season!

Philip Lim had a equally great 3.1 collection and stuck with what he knows best. The abstract collection was backless, sideless, and bottomless with lots of layering that seemed to oddly work in his favor. It may have also been so successful because of the helping hand of Nancy Rohde, the stylist and Dries Van Noten consultant. The natural colours and tailoring with sportswear is what he knows best. Although I would personally liked to have seen a few unexpected items. My favorite pieces of the collection were the eyelet shorts. Take what you may from this line, but at the end of the day he knows what works for him and what is going to sell.

Now personally speaking, I am a jacket girl, I love blazers, sport coats, and trench coats so Tommy Hilfiger made me a happy girl. I typically do not go for the preppy look but honestly, there were too many great looks from this collection. From the shoes, to the belts, to the dresses, skirts and tops, right down to the styling, everything was absolutely perfect. It was a great collection for the spring and summer.

Now that New York is officially done for another season, London is officially starting up. Very excited to view Sass and Bide and Burberry this coming week.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Going through the collection, it started off with a grouping of white then going through ash grey to pastel colours. To be able to counter act the light and airy feel of the collection, there were splashes of hot pinks and bold colours thrown in the collection which oddly enough worked.

Touches of femininity added with embroidery and lace gave nice depth to the collection.

Overall, the collection was light and free and very wearable for next year's spring and summer.

In the past, Vivienne Tam presented us with lots of cocktail dresses with dark and moody undertones and very tailored silhouettes. This season however was completely different with the overall mood being relaxed and calming.

With this collection, inspiration stemmed from China across India to Persia.

First to walk the runway was great patchy lace dresses with crochet detailing. Tam's collection included lots of great everyday casual looks for everybody.

Cynthia Rowley's collection was more sweet than sexy this season. With the runway set coming from New York City's Ballet Productions of Romeo & Juliet and Swan Lake.

This collection had great trousers and both amazing silk blouses and shirt dresses. There was a flirty spin on it with bubble cut outs just about anywhere. The only down fall to this was the fact they were almost everywhere on every piece. Trying a little too hard on making the collection flow into one.

Overall great colours and designs, many dresses and trousers that are very wearable.

There is a reason why only four years into his fashion career Jason Wu already has 120 retail stores. He knows what he wants, what his customers want, and he knows what works.

This runway show launched his fall range of accessories that is going to include shoes, bags and optical. It also gave away samples of his newly released nail polish collections to all who attended his show.

The collection for this season is a continuation of his last fall line, which was inspired by the tailored look. There was great sheer blouses and amazing ladylike dresses. Prints, retro, and preppy were also in the mix in the most perfect way.

Jason Wu's show was a dream. The whole collection was for every occasion from work to play, going into evening and red carpet.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Christian Siriano has yet again knocked it out of the park. This is the Project Runway winner's fifth collection and it did not disappoint. Siriano really knows what women want and what they like to wear.

His inspiration for this collection stemmed from places he has yet to be. "A bit from Africa, a bit from Asia, and a bit from Mediterranean - Greek."

Even though his collection did not really tell a story of said inspiration, it was still a great collection.

Of course no "tranny hot mess" could have a runway show without some show stoppers. Two big and over-the-top gowns floated across the runway filled with ruffles.

For a better look at the collection and any from this fashion week, go to Style.com.

Friday, August 27, 2010

The summer is really my season. I love the sun, the heat and the beach. My dream wedding is to be married on the beach by the ocean. There is no better feeling than sand between your toes and the salty ocean air.

So the other day, I took a drive down to the beach. The only down fall of living in the city is that it is a little drive, but once you get there, it is well worth it.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Now that school is just right around the corner, that means fall is as well. I myself was never particularly fond of the season, but this time I might just change my tune. I cannot wait to try all the fashions for the fall.

Two of the big main styles for this season would have to be fur and the 50's. I absolutely love fur and more designers are now working with faux fur. Karl Lagerfeild did full faux fur suits for his line (Joe Zee may be able to rock it, but I think I may have to pass on that.) Prada's 50's inspiration is full out with the big high waisted full skirts and dresses. It even seems that the bee hive is trying to make a comeback as well. I for one am so happy that the lady look is back in full force. No more low rider jeans, but high waisted pencil skirts, wide leg pants and men style clothes instead.

Not everyone can afford designer clothing such as Chanel or Prada, so for a budget friendly fashionista like myself, there are many stores you can shop at to achieve these looks. H&M is a great store for all the latest looks and styles. All the prices are amazingly affordable and can fit any wallet size. Also, vintage and thrift stores are a great place to find hidden gems. A lot of these stores will have pieces from the 50's that you can mix and match things with.

Some of the big must haves for this fall season would be trench coats, leather, and boots. A trench coat is great and it can be carried through season after season. Burberry has some amazing ones this year as well as Banana Republic and H&M. Leather jackets are awesome and can literally be paired with anything and everything. You can throw it over a blouse and pencil skirt to rough up the look or go for the classic vintage band tee and jeans.

As far as our feet Over The Knee boots are still very big this season along with clogs and kitten heels. Now I will be the first to say I am not a fan of the kitten heel. They tend to hurt the feet more than a higher heel would. Also, you want to watch where you buy your shoes. Never settle for less. We all may not be able to afford Manolo's but there are many other stores that sell well made shoes. Aldo is one of my favorites. It can have some awesome prices and all the big trends for the seasons. There is nothing worse than a poorly made shoe.

My favourite things about this season are all the amazing new fashions and all the big September issues.